OUR OPINION: Money may talk but voters elect senators

Opinion polls and federal contribution filings don’t elect U.S. Senators -- you do

The Enterprise, Brockton, MA

Writer

Posted Apr. 25, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 25, 2013 at 2:53 AM

Posted Apr. 25, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 25, 2013 at 2:53 AM

» Social News

If money talks, then U.S. Rep. Edward Markey walks over his competition for the nomination (and final election) to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by John Kerry.

If issues matter, then voters will select the candidates who they believe can best lead them and the country back to prosperity.

Despite ongoing public debate about gun control and about national security in the wake of last’s week horrible events in Boston, the majority of Massachusetts voters remain focused on issues related to finances, as the country continues its plodding recovery from recession.

That’s according to a poll conducted by the Western New England University Polling Institute through a partnership with The (Springfield) Republican/MassLive .com and Springfield TV station WSHM as two Democrats and three Republicans battle for the chance to face off in the June 25 final election.

Campaign finance reports released last week show Markey awash in contributions. He had raised about $4.8 million since jumping into the race, with the bulk of those dollars coming from outside Massachusetts.

With more than $3 million in his congressional campaign account to start with, Markey had a total of $7.8 million on hand. He had spent about $3.2 million, leaving him with about $4.6 million as of April 10.

His Democratic rival, fellow U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, had raised $1.5 million since entering the race in late January, adding to the $745,000 left from his last House race.

He had spent $1.7 million through April 10 and had more than $514,000 left. His campaign said 93 percent of his donors live in Massachusetts.

Private equity investor Gabriel Gomez of Cohasset had raised more money than state Rep. Daniel Winslow and former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan of Abington in the race for the Republican nomination.

Gomez reported raising nearly $1.2 million, about half of it coming from a $600,000 personal loan to his campaign. He reported having $499,743 left in his account.

Sullivan had raised $174,498 and spent $77,000, and he had $96,000 left in the bank

Winslow reported raising $244,000 (including $8,500 he donated to himself) and loaning his campaign $150,000. He had $142,000 left as of April 10.

The Western New England University poll, which has a margin for error of 8 to 9 percent, puts Markey ahead of Lynch, and Sullivan and Gomez in a tight race.

But opinion polls and federal contribution filings don’t elect U.S. senators, you do.

As we have repeated time and again since this special election was called in January, citizens need to exercise their right to choose who represents them.

Read about, listen to and research reports on these candidates today. And clear a time on Tuesday’s calendar to vote.